Community broadcasting and mental health: The role of local radio and television in enhancing emotional and social well-being

Community broadcasting and mental health: The role of local radio and television in enhancing emotional and social well-being

Author

Meadows, Michael; Foxwell-Norton, Kerrie

Journal Name

The Radio Journal

Editor

Tim Wall

Year Published

2011

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Publisher

Intellect Ltd.

Abstract

This article sets out to explore the role of community broadcasting in enhancing the emotional and social well-being of its diverse audiences. We argue that communitybased broadcasting is having a positive impact on the state of mental health of its audiences. We make our argument by reviewing audience research data from a study of the Australian community broadcasting sector conducted between 2004 and 2007. The findings reveal that the community radio and Indigenous television sectors are making a significant contribution to managing community mental health by empowering audiences to better understand and control issues that impact on their emotional and social well-being. This suggests opportunities for health care agencies to consider the potential of enlisting community broadcasting in future mental health campaigns. The study reinforces a claim that mainstream media need to be more aware of a growing dissatisfaction with their inability to 'connect' with their diverse audiences on such issues. It also provides further evidence for community radio as a key cultural resource that meets its expected outcomes in contributing to social gain.

Copyright 2011 Intellect Ltd . This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal website for access to the definitive, published version.